Laundry apparatus

ABSTRACT

A LAUNDRY DRYER INCLUDING A PAIR OF COMPARTMENTS FOR FABRICS TO BE DRIED, MEANS FOR MOVING HEATED AIR THROUGH THE COMPARTMENTS, AND AIR FLOW CONTROL MEANS SELECTIVELY OPERABLE EITHER TO EFFECT AIR FLOW THROUGH ONE OF THE COMPARTMENTS, WHILE PREVENTING AIR FLOW THROUGH THE OTHER COMPARTMENT, OR TO CAUSE AIR TO FLOW THROUGH BOTH COMPARTMENTS SIMULTANEOUSLY. ONE COMPARTMENT COMPRISES A FIRST VENTED ROTATABLE DRUM OF CONVENTIONAL, LARGER SIZE FOR TUMBLING FABRICS TO BE DRIED, AND THE OTHER COMPARTMENTS IS DISPOSED BELOW THE ONE COMPARTMENT AND INCLUDES BOTH A STATIONARY REGION AND A SECOND ROTATABLE DRUM OF LESSER SIZE THAN THE FIRST, WITHIN EITHER OR BOTH OF WHICH FABRICS AND ARTICLES MAY BE PLACED TO DRY.

Jan.19, 1971 Y J. R. HUBBARD 3,555,701

LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 33 INVENTOR.

MAMZJ A. [9065/4/90 1971 J. R. HUBBARD 3,555,701

' LAUNDRY APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1969 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 144M511 R. HUfiEARD Jan. 19, 1971 J. R. HUBBARD LAUNDRY APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed May 15, .1969

,d'f Q INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,555,701 LAUNDRY APPARATUS James R. Hubbard, Moorestown, N.J., asslgnor to lfhilco- Ford Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 15, 1969, Ser. No. 824,820 Int. Cl. F26b 11/04 US. Cl. 34-133 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A laundry dryer including a pair of compartments for fabrics to be dried, means for moving heated air through the compartments, and air flow control means selectively operable either to effect air flow through one of the compartments, while preventing air flow through the other compartment, or to cause air to flow through both compartments simultaneously. One compartment comprises a first vented rotatable drum of conventional, larger slze for tumbling fabrics to be dried, and the other compartment is disposed below the one compartment and includes both a stationary region and a second rotatable drum of lesser size than the first, within either or both of which fabrics and articles may be placed to dry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The field of this invention is laundry apparatus, and especially plural compartment laundry dryers.

A type of laundry dryer in common use today coniprises a rotatable drum in which clothes to be dried are placed, and suitable means is provided for rotating the drum and for circulating heated air through the drum in achievement of the drying operation. The present invention recognizes that some articles must be dried using a minimum of heat and no tumbling, while other articles require tumbling in conjunction with variable amounts of heat. Accordingly, it is a general objective of this invention to enhance the utility of a laundry dryer through provision of means for drying articles of varied drying requirements.

It is a more specific objective of the invention to provide an improved laundry dryer capable of drying, simultaneously, both regular fabrics, and articles and fabrics requiring special attention.

It is a still further and more specific objective of the invention to provide an improved auxiliary drying compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In achievement of the foregoing as well as other objectives, the invention contemplates the provision of a laundry dryer of the kind having a pair of compartments for fabrics to be dried, means defining a source of heat for each compartment, means for moving air in heat exchange with said source of heat and through said compartments, and air flow control means selectively operable either to effect air fiow through one of the compartments while preventing air flow through the other compartment, or to etfect air flow through both compartments simultaneously.

In particular accordance with the invention, the said one compartment comprises a vented rotatable drum of conventional size and the other compartment is disposed within the base of the dryer and includes both a vented, rotatable drum of lesser size, that is selectively removable, and a stationary drying rack. The invention further contemplates that the stationary rack may be omitted and a pair of smaller drums provided.

The foregoing and other objectives and advantages of. the invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in light of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of a laundry dryer embodying the invention, and with the door in open position for convenience of illustration;

FIG.2 is a partially fragmented sectional view of the laundry dryer as seen looking generally in the direction of arrows 2-2 applied to FIG. 1, but with the door shown in full lines and in closed position;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the dryer as seen looking generally in the direction of arrows 33 applied to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective showing similar to FIG. 1, but from a different side, and illustrating a further operational feature of the invention, wherein access is afforded to the auxiliary drying drum and compartment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective showing of the smaller drying drum removed from the auxiliary compartment while the latter is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, but with portions of the cabinet removed, and illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a view of the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 6, as seen looking generally in the direction of arrows 7-7 applied thereto; and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views taken similarly to FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively, showing a further modified embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS With more particular reference to the drawing, and first to FIGS. 1 to 5, a laundry dryer 10 embodying the invention comprises a cabinet 11 provided with a rotatable drum 12 having an opening 13. The front wall of cabinet 11 is provided with an access opening 14 aligned with a drum opening 13, and a hinged door 15 is disposed over opening 14. For convenience of illustration, door 15, is shown in open position in FIG. 1, and in closed position in FIGS. 2 to 4. While none has been shown, it will be understood that suitable latch means is provided to hold door 15 in closed position. The door 15 includes a conventional gasket 19 (FIG. 1 only) that seals against the face of the cabinet 11, and a hollow plug section 16 provided with a perforate panel 20 that extends into and is aligned frontally with opening 14. A bottom opening 21 in plug section 16 is aligned with an air duct 22 across which extends a lint filter 23. Drum opening 13 is defined by a circular flange that extends into sliding engagement with generally circular bearing means (not shown) supported by cabinet 11 along the periphery of access opening 14. The rear wall 24 of drum 12 is perforate, a shroud 25 supported by cabinet 11 extends over wall 24, and the circular flange 17 protrudes from wall 24 into sliding engagement with generally circular bearing means (not shown) provided on the shroud 25. The bearing means are conventional and cooperate with the respective circular front and rear drum flanges to support the drum for rotational movements. It will be understood further that sealing strips may be provided in the regions of the front and rear bearing means to insure against leakage of air as it is being circulated through the drum.

Shroud 25 communicates with a horizontally extending inlet air duct 26 within which there is disposed an electrical heater 30. A blower 31, preferably of the centrifugal type, is arranged ot energize the air flow circuit more fully described below. Under conditions of drying in rotatable drum 12 only, and with special reference to FIG. 2, motor 29 is energized to rotate drum 12 by pulley and belt arrangement 28. Thus, air is withdrawn from rotating drum 12 through its front opening 13 for flow through perforate door panel 20, lint filter 23, and duct 22, thereafter for flow through exhaust duct 27. Air withdrawn from the rotating drum is replaced by air entering by way of duct 26, flowing over heater 30, through shroud 25, and through the perforate rear wall 24 of the drum. The above-described air circuit is designated generally by the upper flow arrows in FIG. 2.

In especial accordance with the invention, and as is best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a compartment 32 having top, bottom, side and rear walls is disposed beneath drum 12 and is provided with a drawer 33 mounted, by known means, for slidable movements into and out of compartment 32, through the open front thereof. The front wall of drawer 33 closes compartment 32, and conveniently may include a peripherally extending gasket (not shown) that seals against front edges of the compartment to render the drawer substantially airtight when it is closed.

The left hand portion of drawer 33 is provided with a relatively small drum 35 that is rotatable upon a pair of forwardly positioned bearing pads 36 (FIG. 2) and upon rearwardly positioned friction drive roller 40' and bearing pad 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Drive roller 40 is keyed to a shaft 43 journalled for rotation within a bearing 44 provided on the bottom wall, of the compartment. Shaft 43 and roller 40 extend through an opening 38 (FIG. 2) in the rear wall 37 of the drawer, and are driven by a motor 46 through a suitable belt and pulley arrangement 45. Motor 46, also in the compartment, drives a blower 50, preferably of the centrifugal type. Blower 50 has its inlet port provided with a shroud 48 disposed over an opening 39 in wall 37 and aligned with the rear perforate wall 51 of smaller drum 35. Discharge duct 57 for the blower 50 extends into air flow communication with a port 58 in the lateral wall portion of the exhaust duct 27. A heater 52, preferably of the electrical resistance type (FIG. 2), is disposed adjacent the front perforate wall 53 of drum 35. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, a drying rack 55 is disposed in the right hand side of the drawer, adjacent the smaller drum. The rear wall 37 of drawer 33 in this area includes perforations 47, and is also in communication with the inlet of blower 50 by means of a portion of shroud 48 that extends laterally from the blower.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the extension of shaft 43 and roller 40 through rear opening 38 of the drawer 33 permit it to be slid forward, along with the drum, in provision of access both to the drum, and to the drying rack 55 in the right hand region of the drawer. In the extended position of the drawer, the small drum 35 may be removed merely by lifting it from its bearing pad supports and clear of drawer. In the present embodiment, the small drum 35 is provided with a sliding door 49 over a peripheral access opening 56. It will of course be understood that the cylindrical wall portion of drum 35 may be made solid, and that the forward wall perforations 53 may be replaced with an access opening to the drum serving also as an air outlet for the smaller drum.

In operation of the lower drying compartment, heater 52 is energized and motor 46 is also energized, from a known suitable source, to drive blower 50 and drum drive roller 40. As drum 35 is rotated, and as indicated by the applied flow arrows, air is drawn from compartment 32, over heater 52, thence into drum 35 by way of front perforate wall 53. Air is withdrawn from drum 35 through rear perforate wall 51, and is discharged through duct 57. The extension of shroud 48 laterally over perforate wall 47 causes air also to How over drying rack 55. A heater (not shown) is disposed toward the front of the righthand static drying compartment, in a manner similar to heater 52 and, in effect, the left and right hand compartment air-flow circuits are parallel. Selectivity of operation 4 of these parallel air-flow circuits may be provided by suitably controlled damper means (not shown) associated with the inlet shroud 48 of the blower 50. Also, control means (not shown) may be provided to afford selectivity of operation of the forwardly disposed heaters, in conjunction with operation of the damper.

Turning in more detail to the cooperative disposition of the upper and the lower drying compartments, a pivotal damper 59 normally covers port 58 so that when upper drying drum 12 is used alone, damper 59 will remain in closed position. \Vhen the lower drying drum 35 is used in conjunction with the upper drum, the force of air discharged from the two blowers is so proportioned that damper 59 will remain in opened position permitting exhaust air to flow from the smaller blower 50 through duct 27. When the lower drying drum or compartment is used alone, the damper will be forced open to accommodate discharge of air from blower 50 through the discharge duct 27 In the modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6' and 7, the drawer 33 includes a pair of smaller drums 60-, each being substantially the same size as drum 35 previously described. Each of the smaller drums 60 is supported at its forward end by a pair of bearing pads 61 (FIG. 7), and the rearwardly disposed portions of the drums are supported by drive rollers 63 and stationary bearing pads 62 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Drive rollers 63 conveniently are disposed in the region of the center of the cabinet, substantially adjacent one another, so that they are driven by the pulley and belt arrangement designated generally by the numeral 64. As in the previous embodiment, the blower 50 is of the centrifugal type, and has its inlet provided with a shroud 65 that extends laterally into air flow communication with the perforate rear portions 67 of each of drums 60. Heater 52, also of the electrical resistance type, is positioned forwardly of each of drums 60 in the same manner as in the preceding embodiment. Access openings for each of drums 60 comprise open front ends 69, access being attainable by lifting the drums out of contact with their bearing pad and drive roller supports. Blower 50 is arranged to withdraw air, in accordance with the air flow arrows, from the smaller drums 60, by way of perforate walls 67 and shroud 65, and to discharge it into the exhaust duct 27 common to the upper, larger drying drum. Concurrently, air is drawn from within the compartment for flow over heaters 30, through openings 69 and into the drums 60. As was the case with the previous embodiment, selectively pivotal damper 59 extends over the port 58 defining the connection between the two discharge ducts.

The modified embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 includes a drawer and drum arrangement similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 5. However, unlike the previous embodiment, the same heater 130, air moving means 131, and drive motor 129 are used for energizing the heated air flow circuits and the rotatable drums.

As is best seen in FIG. 9, and upon energization of motor 129 to rotate drum 112, room air is introduced by blower 131 to the drying system by way of an inlet duct 126 within which is provided an electrical resistance heater 130. Inlet air duct 126 is connected to a pair of shrouds 125, 125a, and selective flow of air to one or the other, or to both shrouds simultaneously, is afiorded by a pivotally mounted damper 70 movable to one of three positions as shown. Shroud is in air flow communication with the perforate rear wall 124 of the upper, larger drum 112. Shroud 125a overlies an opening 139 in the rear wall of drawer 133 and aligned with perforate rear wall portion 151 of the smaller, removable drum 135. This arrangement provides an air flow path through the rear perforate wall portion 151, thence outwardly through the open front end portion of the smaller drum and upwardly through a duct 122a communicating with the inlet of blower 131. This same blower inlet communicates with a duct 122 that;

leads downwardly from the front of the upper drying drum 112, in the same manner as in the preceding embodiments. Flow of air through duct 122a is under the control of a two-position damper 71 movable between an open position shown in full lines and a closed position shown in broken lines.

The front access opening of drum 135 is provided with a removable lint trap comprised of an outer screen 72 and a perforate disk 73. The construction and arrangement is such that lint will pass freely through perforate disk 73 and will be entrapped by screen 72. T clean the trap both the screen and disk are removed, and then separated to remove the lint.

Considering further the drum drive system, the upper main drum 112 is rotatable by the pulley and belt arrangement 128, and the lower, auxiliary drum 135 is rotatable by the pulley and belt arrangement 145. It will be understood that means for selectively decoupling either of the drive arrangements 128 and 145, one to the exclusion of the other, may be utilized in accordance with the selected drying zone. For example, selectively operable drive clutches as designated generally by the numerals 128a and 145a may be associated with the drive pulleys on the shaft of motor 129.

In operation of both drying compartments simultaneously, dampers 71 and 70 are moved to the illustrated full, line positions so that heated air flows in parallel circuit through both compartments, along the paths indicated by flow arrows as both drums are rotated. In operation of the lower compartment alone, damper 71 is positioned as shown in full lines, and damper 70 is moved to its upper broken line position, as only drum 135 is rotated. When the upper drying compartment is operated alone, damper 71 is moved to its closed, broken line position, damper 70 is moved to its lower broken line position, and only drum 112 is rotated. The individual air fiow paths for the two compartments remain the same for the above described combinations of usage.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the invention affords improved laundry dryer construction capable of drying a variety of fabrics and articles simultaneously. It also provides a compact dryer construction that lends itself to installation in cabinets of a variety of types, including both free standing and built-in arrangements.

I claim:

1. In laundry drying apparatus: a first compartment comprising a first vented rotatable drumfor tumbling fabrics to be dried; a second compartment disposed adjacent the first compartment; a drawer in said second compartment including bearing means; means mounting said drawer for movements between a retracted, closed position inside said compartment and an extended, open position outside said compartment; a second vented rotatable drum for tumbling fabrics to be dried, said second drum being of a lesser size than the first and supported by said bearing means for rotation in said drawer and for ready removal therefrom; drive means in said second compartment, adjacent said drawer and including rotatable means presented for driving engagement with said second drum upon movement of said drawer to closed position, said rotatable means being further disengageable from said drum upon movement of said drawer to open position; heater means; means for moving air in heat exchange relation with said heater means and through said compartments; and air flow control means selectively operable either to provide for air flow through one of the compartments alone, or to provide for air flow through both compartments simultaneously.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by the further inclusion of cabinet structure for said first com partment, and in that said second compartment comprises base structure for supporting said cabinet structure.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, and characterized further in that said first and second compartments are disposed in parallel air flow circuit with one another.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, and characterized further in that: said means for moving air includes individual blower means, and individual motor means therefor, each said motor means further being coupled to rotate a corresponding one of said drums; said heater means comprises individual heaters for said drums; and said air flow control means includes exhaust duct means common to both said drums.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further characterized in that said means for moving air comprises a single blower and a motor therefor, said motor being coupled to rotate said drums, said heater means comprising a single heater, and said air flow control means comprising a single exhaust duct common to both said drums.

-6. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further characterized in that said second drum is of generally cylindrical configuration including perforate end walls and an access opening in the curved wall portion thereof provided with a closure providing access to the interior of said second drum when said drawer is in extended, open position.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, and further characterized in that said heater means comprises a pair of individual heaters for each said compartment, the heater for said second compartment being interposed between a perforate end wall of said second drum and a confronting wall of said drawer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2, and further characterized in that said drawer includes a vented static drying compartment adjacent said second drum through which drying air may be caused to flow by the recited air flow control means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, and further characterized in that said bearing means comprises bearing pad means and said drive means comprises drive roller means, said second drum being supported upon said pad and roller means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, and further characterized by the inclusion of a third drum of comparable size to said second drum and disposed along-side the latter, and bearing pad means and drive roller means supporting and driving said third drum.

'11. Laundry drying apparatus comprising: means defining a compartment having top, bottom, rear, and side wall portions and a forwardly disposed open wall portion; a drawer mounted within said compartment for extensible and retractible movements through said open wall portion, in provision of respective open and closed positions thereof, and including a forward wall arranged to close the recited open Wall portion; bearing means in said drawer including bearing surface portions arranged in a generally cylindrical surface array about a substantially horizontal axis extending in the direction of movement of said drawer; a rotatable generally cylindrical drum in said drawer, supported on said bearing surface portions, and including perforate end portions; a drive roller presented for frictional driving engagement with the cylindrical surface of said drum upon movement of said drawer to closed, retracted position, said drive roller further being disengageable from said drum upon movement of said drawer to open, extended position; heater means disposed in said drawer; air moving means in said drawer including a blower for directing air over said heater means and through said drum; and a motor for driving said drive roller and said blower simultaneously.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, and further characterized in that said drawer includes a static drying chamsaid forward wall and one of said perforate end portions of said drum, and in that said blower is disposed in air flow communication with the other perforate end portion of said drum.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, and further characterized in that said drawer includes a static drying chamber adjacent said drum, a second heater in said chamber adjacent the front wall of said drawer, and vent means 7 8 providing air flow communication between said blower 2,351,429 6/1944 Huebsch 34- 133X and said chamber. 2,774,148 12/ 1956 Worth 34133 2,870,545 1/ 1959 Richterkessing 34-133X References C'ted 3,066,423 12/1962 561cm 34-133X UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,402,477 9/1968 Hubbard 34-133X 1,191,123 7/19116 Collins 34-209X 5 2,271,757 2/ 1942 Boltz 34133X EDWARD J. MICHAEL, Primary Examiner 

